434 ^^'^ ^'^^ ConduB of Scoiijh Mechanics . Nov. 



is, (with a low bow anvl a penitential face) — * Oh, Sir, Mr fuch- 

 a-one's houfe wants only a week's work to finifl], which will be 

 done immediately, when my hands will come back reinforced, 

 and your Honour will never know that they have been ab- 

 fent. ' This is fo far, however, from being the cafe, that by de- 

 lay in finifl^.ing the work at the ftated terms, there comes to be a 

 nullity in tlie contratl. Here is a fine piece of work. — But, be- 

 fore touching upon this point, let us examine the caufe of delay, 

 in thus running from one employer's bulinefs to another's, and 

 undertaking, nay foliciting, bufmcfs which they can never pro- 

 perly accompliih. It originates in the auri facra fames, which 

 may be literally tranflated hell fire greed, and a total want of prin- 

 ciple. For, in our fifter kingdom, a tradefman, when applied to, 

 will decline work, if he has more on hand than he can properly 

 overtake. But it is feldom (I am forry to fay it) that the like fair 

 dealing is Ihown by Scotiili mafons and carpenters, who, grafp- 

 ing at every job which prefents itfelf, feldom do their work to 

 purpofe, and thus injure and difnjeafe their cuftomers. 



To recur to the breach in tb.e contra<St through delay. — 

 The eftimates being brought again into play, perlraps there is a 

 fmall deviation from the agreement, either in the plaltering of a 

 partition, or erefting a profs, or in fimilar things of trilling mag- 

 nitude : then the employer is told, with a gr.ive face, that this 

 was the caufe of the delay, and that the contra61:, having been 

 thus originally pafled from, he can have no recourfe for a penal- 

 ty. Perhaps the law will hold tlie fame language too. 



Now, let us proceed to examine the work according to the ef- 

 timates. — Before finally fettling with the contractors, we fhail 

 fuppofe all is well, and properly, though not timeoully, finiflied. 

 The employer is ilill willing to pay according to eflimate ; but, 

 to his vail iurprife, a long account of extra items is handed to 

 him — * Sir, I thought every thing had been minutely mentioned 

 in the eftimates : what is the meaning of this ? Why, here are 

 items for lintels to doors and windows : how the devil do you 

 hang them without lintels ? ' In anfwer to tliis — * Sir, doors are 

 doors, and windows are windows ; but there is no mention of 

 lintels in the ellimate, &c. &c. But, Sir, that there may be no 

 words betwixt us, do you call one impartial tradefman, and I 

 will call another, and let them judge impartially betwixt us. * 

 I need not tell the employer \\ hat probable redrefs he will get in 

 doing fo : that is fuiiiciently well known to the public in general. 



If dire neceflity compels tlie having recourfe to the Sheriff- 

 court, he will perhaps, inftead of amending his new, bring an 

 eld houfe about his ears. For going to law is like a llieep efcap- 

 ing from .a thicket of Lrarnbles. He may perhaps come off un- 

 hurt. 



